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County of Lambton |
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Home>Health Information>Immunization>Immunizing Your Children For School Entry
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Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) are six serious childhood diseases. The best protection we have against them is immunization. To prevent these diseases from spreading through the community as many children as possible must be immunized.
To ensure that both children and the public are protected, the Ontario Ministry of Health administers a universal school immunization program as part of the Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990. An important requirement of the Act is that medical officers of health must keep immunization records of all school pupils in the province.
The Student Nursery/School Immunization Requirement form (in PDF format) can be downloaded, printed and faxed, mailed or hand delivered to the Community Health Services Department as soon as possible. Please note that children are due for two vaccinations between four to six years of age, the Measles, Mumps, and, Rubella vaccine, as well as the Tetanus Diphtheria, Polio and Pertussis vaccine.
You may also send this information to the Community Health Services Department by mail, or you may call 519 383-8331 ext. 3554, or email the information to immunization@county-lambton.on.ca. Please include your child’s name, date of birth, address, phone number, Ontario Health Card number, Doctor’s name, Parent or guardians name, and, name of school registering for.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact a Public Health Nurse at 519 383-8331 ext. 3572 or ext. 3530.The law states that Ontario pupils must be immunized or in the process of becoming immunized, unless they have been legally exempted. Otherwise, they could be suspended from school. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990, and Day Nurseries Act, 1984, parents are directly responsible for the immunization status of their children.
This law applies to all students in Ontario under age 18 who attend private or public primary and secondary schools.
Even though immunization is mandatory in Ontario, some children may be exempted under the following circumstances.
Medical exemptions must be authorized by a physician and will be given to children whose health could be affected by vaccinations. Children who are already immune and have evidence to prove it may be exempted as well.
Exemptions will also be granted to children whose parents provide an affidavit stating immunization is against their sincerely held beliefs based on religion or conscience. The affidavit must be sworn by or solemnly affirmed before a commissioner for taking affidavits, such as a lawyer or notary public.
The legislation permits a medical officer of health to order the suspension from school of any student who has failed to become immunized and is not exempt.
| Note: | The law also states that parents of children who refuse to have their children immunized or legally exempted are liable to a fine up to $1,000. |
In the event of an outbreak or threatened outbreak of any disease affected by legislation, the medical officer of health may order the exclusion from school of any student who is not immune, regardless of legal exemption. In this case, the non-immune student may not be able to attend school for two to three weeks.
There is no doubt that a universal school immunization program can control the occurrence of these diseases and their serious complications.
| Diphtheria | This is a highly contagious disease. Although rare, localized outbreaks may occur. Complications may include heart failure, nerve damage or death. |
| Tetanus (Lockjaw) | The organism is found throughout our environment and there is no natural immunity. The disease is most often caused by the contamination of wounds and can result in death. |
| Polio | Although the disease is now rare in Ontario because of immunization, it is still present in many other parts of the world. The disease may result in paralysis or death. |
| Measles | This is not a benign childhood illness. It may cause such serious complications as pneumonia, hearing loss, encephalitis, brain damage or death. |
| Mumps | Mortality from mumps is low. Nevertheless, complications such as encephalitis, sterility or permanent deafness may occur. |
| Rubella (German Measles) | The most important consequence of rubella is its effect on the unborn child, particularly if contracted during early pregnancy. The effects include mental retardation, cataracts, deafness or heart disease. |
Children may experience mild side effects such as fever or a sore arm, but the benefits far outweigh such discomforts. Serious adverse reactions to immunization are very rare. For more information, ask for detailed vaccine information sheets from your nearest public health unit office.
You can have your children immunized by your family physician, pediatrician or by your local health unit. The vaccines are available free of charge. The cost of administration is an OHIP benefit.
All residents of Ontario can obtain a yellow personal immunization Record card at the time of immunization. It is important for the parents to keep this record and have it updated each time the child is immunized. Proper documentation will help ensure an uninterrupted school year for the children, and, most importantly, the success of the program.
** It is your responsibility to notify the
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Immunizing Children
for School Entry